Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 166

Devī-tattva, Śakti–Śaktimān doctrine, Kāla–Māyā cosmology, and Māheśvara Yoga instruction

Devanagari script

निष्ठा दृष्टिः स्मृतिर्व्याप्तिः पुष्टिस्तुष्टिः क्रियावती / विश्वामरेश्वरेशाना भुक्तिर्मुक्तीः शिवामृता

Transliteration

niṣṭhā dṛṣṭiḥ smṛtirvyāptiḥ puṣṭistuṣṭiḥ kriyāvatī / viśvāmareśvareśānā bhuktirmuktīḥ śivāmṛtā

Translation

Sie ist Standhaftigkeit (Niṣṭhā), wahre Schau (Dṛṣṭi) und heiliges Erinnern (Smṛti); sie ist All-Durchdringung, Nahrung, Zufriedenheit und wirksames göttliches Handeln. Sie ist die erhabene Herrin des Weltalls und der Götter—Śivas Nektar—und schenkt sowohl bhukti (weltlichen Genuss) als auch mukti (endgültige Befreiung).

Word by Word

• निष्ठा: steadfastness
• निष्ठा: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निष्ठा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• दृष्टिः: vision
• दृष्टिः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दृष्टि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• स्मृतिः: memory
• स्मृतिः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्मृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• व्याप्तिः: pervasion
• व्याप्तिः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्याप्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• पुष्टिः: nourishment
• पुष्टिः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुष्टि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तुष्टिः: contentment
• तुष्टिः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तुष्टि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• क्रियावती: active; endowed with action
• क्रियावती: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्रियावत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier)

• विश्व-अमर-ईश्वर-ईशाना: the sovereign lady of the lords of the world and the immortals
• विश्व-अमर-ईश्वर-ईशाना: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्व (प्रातिपदिक) + अमर (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक) + ईशाना (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष/निर्धारण-समासार्थः (of the lords of the world and immortals)

• भुक्तिः: enjoyment
• भुक्तिः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भुक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• मुक्तीः: liberations; release
• मुक्तीः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Nom. pl.; poetic listing)

• शिव-अमृता: auspicious and deathless (nectar-like)
• शिव-अमृता: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + अमृता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier)

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) teaching in the Ishvara Gita section

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Ishvara (Shiva)
• Ishani (the Supreme Goddess/Shakti)
• Bhukti
• Mukti

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

How does this verse explain the nature of the Supreme Self (Atman)?

By listing pervading powers like insight, memory, and all-pervasion (vyāpti), the verse points to the Supreme as immanent consciousness and sovereign reality, experienced as divine Shakti whose presence supports both worldly life and liberation.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes yogic requisites—niṣṭhā (steadfast practice), dṛṣṭi (right inner vision), and smṛti (continuous recollection)—which align with Pāśupata-oriented discipline: unwavering devotion, contemplative insight, and sustained remembrance leading to siddhi (effective action) and release.

How does this verse depict the relationship between Shiva and Vishnu?

It speaks in the Ishvara Gita voice where Lord Kurma teaches a Shaiva-leaning non-dual synthesis: Śiva’s grace (śivāmṛta) and the Supreme Lady’s powers are upheld as the same saving reality that Vishnu reveals—granting both bhukti and mukti.